Ithaca College

The Exploratory Program is seeking faculty who enjoy working with first-year students and have assigned academic advising built into their workload.

Much like the Honors Program, Exploratory is building a group of affiliated faculty who rotate in and out of teaching. Exploratory faculty teach the optional, one-credit gateway course in the fall (capped at 15 seats), and advise these students until they discern their major. Average time students spend in the program is 2.5 semesters. This course is not required, but ~80% of incoming Exploratory students opt to take it.

Exploring the Options is a hybrid course combining academic content, academic advising, career exploration and personal reflection. The program offers a common syllabus, common assignments and rubrics, and an extensive library of curated readings and media that faculty and students supplement with fresh finds. This year, we are augmenting professional development with a weekly online exchange of teaching ideas for the coming unit.

Faculty are compensated for one credit per section in load or over load. We usually meet as a group once per semester: in late summer to prepare for the semester, and in February to revise the syllabus and assignments based on student evaluations and faculty assessments. 

Sections are available for this fall, as well as fall 2018 for those who wish to plan ahead.

To learn more please contact Prof. Elizabeth Bleicher, Exploratory Program Director at ebleicher@ithaca.edu or 607-274-1531.